Friday, April 29, 2016

(April 28, 2016) In Florida a federal judge dismissed the first of many lawsuits that claimed Walt Disney World violated the Americans with Disabilities Act when it changed its original policy on accommodating guests with disabilities. The current Walt Disney World Policy is available HERE. We have read a few reports on the federal court's ruling, the most detailed was reported by Deadline Hollywood, which we have shared below as interests for disability related information.

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After more than two years and courts from California to Florida, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts today was exonerated in a lawsuit claiming it discriminated against families with children with autism and other developmental disorders in violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

article by Dominic Patten for Deadline Hollywood“The Clerk is directed to enter judgment providing that Plaintiff shall recover nothing on his claims and that Defendant shall recover costs from Plaintiff,” U.S. District Judge Anne Conway ordered on Thursday, granting Disney’s motion for summary judgment and closing plaintiffs A.L. and D.L.’s case.

“Plaintiff was given an opportunity to experience Magic Kingdom in a similar manner as guests that do not need accommodations,” said the Orlando-based Conway today (read it here). “Nondisabled guests visit Magic Kingdom for rides and attractions that most of them have to wait more than an hour to experience,” the Sunshine State-based judge added. “Comparing this to Plaintiff’s experience, DAS (Disability Access Service) and readmission passes allow him access to those same rides in a fraction of the time.” Giving Disney points, Conway concluded, “thus, DAS and readmission passes afford Plaintiff a similar, or better, experience as those not needing them.”

“The opinion is unsound, and we continue to evaluate our options,” the plaintiffs’ Tampa-based lawyer Andy Dogali told Deadline today after the order was issued. The matter was set to go to trial on August 29 – something that won’t happen now regardless if there is an appeal or not.

Back in April 2014, 16 children and young adults with autism and other developmental disorders and their guardians and parents filed ADA violations in federal court in the Golden State alleging that Disney’s October 2013 implemented Disability Access Service was completely unsuited to the needs of individuals with such special needs. The DAS was intended as a replacement for the longstanding Guest Assistance Card program in an effort to halt perceived scams — such as well-heeled patrons hiring disabled individuals to travel around Disneyland and other parks with them so they could get on rides without waiting.

However, the initial complaint claimed that the new system resulted in long waits for ride, which often led to “meltdown behaviors.” The filing also claimed that once-helpful Park and Resorts staff was now inadequate and “robotic” in dealing with such disorders, resulting in various cases of breach of contract and emotional distress. Additionally, the filing said that a supposed secret “Magic List” program, which allows patrons instant entry no appointment rides, could have solve a lot of the problems raised by the DAS.

“We fully comply with all ADA requirements and believe that the legal claims are without merit,” said Disney in response. At the time, the House of Mouse also denied any such Magic List program existed.

Failing to get the embarrassing and potentially massive case tossed, Disney did get it moved to highly favorable Florida as most of the instances in question occurred at facilities in the Sunshine State. More legal wrangling saw Conway decide in November 2014 that the big case would be divided into individual matters

As matters continued in the federal courts, the Florida Commission on Human Relations slammed one of the state’s largest employers in early 2015. “There is reason to believe Respondent denied Complainant’s son the full enjoyment of the establishment because of a disability and a cause finding is recommended,” the civil rights division said in a determination from February last year and made public that March.

Announcing a new webinar - "FEMA Promising Practice:

Full and meaningful inclusion of individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs in the emergency management process needs shared understanding, cultural competence, effective communication, inclusive practices, and comprehensive emergency management principles. Personal preparedness education combined with accessible and inclusive emergency management can enable individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs to participate in a meaningful way with emergency managers and planners.

The first part of this presentation will outline essential components to including community stakeholders in planning, structuring planning strategies to be inclusive, and applying whole community principles to all phases of the emergency preparedness process. Activities of persons with disabilities in preparedness, planning, statewide exercises, event evacuations and responses from Hawaii will be shared.

The second part of this presentation will focus on increasing understanding of how the individuals with intellectual and developmental, their families, and staff can better understand needs during a crisis, and how they can gain skills in mitigating the impact of an event.

May 12th, 2016

Dawn Skaggs is the National Director for Whole Community Preparedness and Training for BCFS HHS Emergency Management Division and is the project manager for the National Whole Community Planning and Training Program. Before joining BCFS, Ms. Skaggs was faculty at the University of Hawaii Center on Disability Studies and was the principal investigator for the Hawaii State Emergency Preparedness System of Support where she facilitated a statewide multi-agency and stakeholder collaboration that provided emergency preparedness leadership opportunities to individuals with disabilities. She has served on many councils and working groups for the integration of individuals with disabilities in the community and emergency management activities for nonprofit organizations as well as local, tribal, county state and federal agencies.

Debbie Jackson is the Planner/ADA Coordinator for the Disability and Communication Access Board (DCAB), and is responsible for the “Interagency Action Plan for the Emergency Preparedness of Persons with Disabilities and Special Health Needs” that was first drafted in 2006 and is currently being updated. The plan is the work of an interagency working group coordinated by DCAB. Ms. Jackson collaborated with Ms. Skaggs on an emergency preparedness advisory group for the University of Hawaii's Center on Disability Studies, and has completed the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training with the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Emergency Management and has actively recruited individuals with disabilities to take the CERT training in their neighborhoods.

Bathey Fong is currently the President of the Hawaii Self-Advocacy Advisory Council (SAAC). She is a Feeling Safe, Being Safe Trainer and has worked at the Center for Disabilities Studies at the University of Hawaii Manoa. She has her own business as a Community Trainer for Emergency Preparedness.

Linda Certo received her Masters in Psychology from Marist College, and her Masters in Social Work from Fordham University. She is a licensed clinical social worker who has specialized in providing clinical services to access and functional needs populations at Access: Supports for Living for the past twenty years. She has been an adjunct professor at SUNY New Paltz and Mount St Mary's College, and was the Coordinator at the Institute for Disaster Mental Health in 2013. She has been a Disaster Mental Health responder with the American Red Cross for the past 15 years. Ms. Certo is a contributor for the Disaster Mental Health Handbook for the American Red Cross.

These 90 minute webinars are delivered using the Blackboard Collaborate webinar platform. Collaborate downloads files to your machine in order to run. We recommend that you prepare your technology prior to the start of the session. You may need the assistance of your IT Staff if firewalls prevent you from downloading files.

Our colleagues at Access Living (center of Independent Living) in Chicago, have shared the important updates;# # #

Dear Access Living friends and allies,

Yesterday, we learned that the State of Illinois plans to move forward with the May 1 enforcement date for the overtime policy for the Home Services Program (HSP). There has been no change to the policy despite suggestions from disability advocates, and the State is now tying possible flexibility to a wage freeze for four years, for all HSP workers, also known as Individual Providers (IPs). Remember, while the Federal government has required that overtime be paid to domestic workers, it is the State that is determining the policy for HSP.

Tying disability rights to an effort to undermine wages for the HSP workers is, in Access Living’s eyes, unacceptable. In an industry where worker turnover is over 60%, we know that a stable workforce is incredibly important to the 27,000 people with disabilities ages 18-59 who use HSP to direct and control their in-home personal care services. We, along with five other Centers for Independent Living and SEIU HCII, issued a statement at this link to make our position clear: we are being forced into a bait-and-switch. The AP also carried a story at this link covering the challenges for HSP customers and providers.

As it now stands, the HSP overtime policy with enforcement date of May 1 requires:

• That every HSP customer have a backup PA on record• That HSP IPs work a max of 40 hours per week, unless they work for a customer who got approved for an exception• Category A: That HSP customers can approve overtime for their IPs ONLY if they have a) a backup IP on file, b) Being Alone hours on their service plan AND one of the following three items: Exceptional Care Rate, DON score of 70, or court ordered service plan• Category B: That ALL HSP customers can have overtime approved for exceptional circumstances, which are currently defined broadly (could include severe weather or other emergencies). However the broad definition does not make it clear that overtime could be approved when IPs must spend extra time dealing with HSP customer health issues, or situations of abuse or neglect. Also, in order to get this approval, the HSP customer must have a backup IP on file.• No exceptions for live-in providers (including parents, sibling, etc)

What are the numbers involved? In calendar year 2015, 8,611 HSP customers utilized more than 40 hours per week. 8,488 IPs worked more than 40 hours per week. DRS has reportedly only approved a few hundred HSP customers to allow them to let their IPs do overtime. DRS’ latest numbers reportedly say that about 5,100 HSP customers are eligible for overtime, but actually only a few hundred have done the necessary paperwork to secure overtime approval. This begs the question of whether ALL the HSP customers eligible for overtime approval understand their rights and the process of applying for overtime.

While some may think this fight is all about union issues, the truth is that there’s a lot to worry people with disabilities. The HSP overtime policy presents issues for people with disabilities because:

• IPs who work more than 40 hours per week, for more than one customer, are being asked to pick which customers to drop hours on, so as to cut back to 40. This is creating cases like that of King Solomon “splitting the baby.” This infringes upon consumer control of whom to hire/fire and for how many hours.• Customers who lose their IPs due to the cap must find new IPs, which can create a crisis given that the IP application package can reportedly take up to 4 months for DRS to review before the final processing. There is no guarantee that IPs who must drop the hours can continue working for that customer until the customer finds replacement IPs.• In areas of the state with lower numbers of available IPs, customers will have a more difficult time finding replacement or supplementary IPs.• Live in providers like parents or siblings are not granted an exception unless their HSP customer qualifies and applies to approve overtime.• The hard cap of 40 will be a challenge for IPs who work overtime to help with abuse/neglect or immediate health issues like a dirty diaper. While the State says it will allow some overtime exceptions for emergencies, it’s not clear that there will be exceptions granted for those reasons.• DRS maintains that it will solve problems on a case by case basis at the Central Office. However, some customers and IPs have reported difficulty in getting DRS on the phone to discuss problems productively.• IPs who work too many instance of unapproved overtime will be dropped from HSP. However, it is unclear how the State will meet the needs of customers whose IPs have been dropped, nor is it clear that the customers will be alerted in advance that their IPs are being dropped, with enough time to find new IPs.• The policy contains no language about specifically how customers will be notified of their rights under Olmstead and how this new policy can cause an issue with their right to live in the community.

Ultimately, raising the cap to beyond 40 hours a week will create the least havoc. If the state implemented overtime with no caps, the cost is only $7 million a year. Plus, people with disabilities need to see an exceptions process that is not so rigid, and more robust. However, we now find ourselves faced with a question of social justice: are disability rights or labor rights more important? The answer for us is that both are important and a well-performing program will respect both. Every state in the nation has been struggling to ensure they have a good overtime policy, some with better success than others.

What if you have concerns? HSP customers with concerns about their ability to comply with the overtime policy should contact their DRS counselors ASAP. You may also contact your local Center for Independent Living for help (see www.incil.org to check the CILs that serve each county). Access Living’s Home and Community Ombudsman Program can also respond to questions or difficulties with this policy and help you advocate if you are an HSP customer; call (312) 640-2152 or ombudsman@accessliving.org. HSP IPs (workers) should contact the SEIU HCII Member Resource Center; see their website here.

If you know someone who is an HSP customer or IP, please help by making sure they are on top of this issue. The overtime policy will continue to be monitored, and we ask people to please communicate where they are having difficulty.

Thursday, April 28, 2016

After years of steady decline, the nationwide count of school-age students covered under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act has shown an upswing since the 2011-12 school year based on the most recently available federal data, driven by rapid growth in such disability categories as autism.

article By Christina A. Samuels for Education Week | April 19, 2016 The count of students ages 6-21 with disabilities fell to a low of 5.67 million in fall 2011, but had risen to 5.83 million by fall 2014, the most recent year for which statistics are available.

A third of the nationwide increase in 2014-15 came from one state, New York. The reasons for the sharp increase in the state are not clear.

These numbers—gathered from reports that every state is required to file yearly with the U.S. Department of Education and analyzed by Education Week and its Research Center—cannot be used to demonstrate that there is an actual increase or decrease of young people with disabilities in the country. Child-count data are sensitive to policies that encourage, or discourage, special education identification. And, as noted, a change in just one large state can have nationwide impact.

But the numbers have real implications for states and localities, which pay by far the largest share of costs for special education students.

Virginia is among the states that have seen a large increase in the population of students with autism.

At one time, autism was considered a "low incidence" disability in Virginia, said John Eisenberg, the state's director of special education. Now, those students make up the fourth-largest disability category in the state.

"What we're seeing is that about half of that population are kids with pretty severe disabilities, major behavior issues, medical issues; they're probably some of the most complicated issues that school divisions face," said Eisenberg, who is president of the National Association of State Directors of Special Education. "The costs associated with educating kids with disabilities has significantly increased."

Tallying the Numbers

After a marked increase, the count of students ages 6-21 with disabilities peaked in the 2004-05 school year and then started going down. The past two years have seen an uptick, however, driven by students identified as having autism or “other health impairments.” Graphic by Vanessa Solis/Education Week

Nationwide, the number of 6- to 21-year-old students classified as having autism rose 165 percent between the 2005-06 and 2014-15 school years, based on a count of nearly all states. (Wyoming did not report numbers for 2014-15.)

Students with "other health impairments"—a category that can include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, health issues such as epilepsy or mobility impairments, or mental-health issues such as bipolar disorder—increased by about 51 percent over that same 10-year span.

Those two categories now account for a little more than 1 in 5 school-age children covered under the IDEA nationwide.

But the disability categories that have typically included the most children have largely been on a decadelong decline. They include students with specific learning disabilities, speech and language impairments, behavioral and emotional disturbances, and intellectual disabilities.

Students with specific learning disabilities such as dyslexia have been, and remain, the largest group of those covered under the IDEA. But in 2005-06, they made up 45 percent of all students in the special education child-count data. By 2014-15, that proportion had dropped to about 39 percent.

The child count is just one data point reported by states annually. States also are required to report data such as how much time children with disabilities spend in general education classrooms, how often they are suspended or expelled, and how often students of different races or ethnicities are classified in certain disability categories.

Ruth Ryder, the acting director of the federal office of special education programs, said that those other data points are the ones that her office focuses on most closely.

"Generally, we are looking at this on a state-by-state basis. We pay particular attention to the [least-restrictive environment] data, dropout data—we're less looking at [child count] trends over time," she said.

Complicating Factors

Several factors could be influencing the overall child-count numbers and the shifts in categorization. Research has shown that some children with disabilities are being reclassified; for example, a child who might once have been identified as intellectually disabled or emotionally disturbed might now be classified as autistic. Some children who in previous years would not have crossed the special education threshold may now meet a state's identification guidelines. Also, policy changes such as the rise of response to intervention, an educational framework designed to provide targeted assistance to academically lagging students, have been tagged as one possible reason why fewer children are identified with specific learning disabilities. The 2004 reauthorization of the IDEA gave the RTI method a strong boost.

The former No Child Left Behind Act also had provisions that some advocates say acted as incentives to keep the special education counts low. For example, schools were required to report the test scores of special education students if they were present in schools in large enough numbers. If the number of special education students was less than a state-determined threshold, those scores would not have to be reported separately.

The nationwide counts are also sensitive to changes within a state or just a few states that could have little to do with the absolute numbers of children with disabilities.

For instance, though the number of children with specific learning disabilities has been on a steady decline since the 2004-05 school year, the number crept up between 2013-14 and 2014-15.

That change was driven almost entirely by New York state, which contributed about 31,000 students—13,000 with learning disabilities—to the 85,000-student nationwide increase reported between those two academic years. The overall student numbers represent an 8 percent increase in New York from 2013-14 to 2014-15, compared with an approximately 1.5 percent increase nationwide.

The reason behind that change is unclear. The state said that part of the change was driven by a more accurate assessment of New York City private school students who receive special education services. Federal data show that the category of parentally-placed private school students rose by about 10,000 children between 2013-14 and 2014-15 in New York, but that doesn't account for the entire increase.

In an email, Patricia J. Geary, the state's coordinator of special education policy and professional development, said that there were no other policy changes that might account for the one-year jump.

New York has collected data for the current school year, though they have not yet been released by the Education Department, which conducts extensive data checks. Geary said that in an early look at those numbers, New York saw a special education enrollment increase of about 3 percent between 2014-15 and 2015-16, which is more in line with previous increases.

Candace Cortiella tracks special education numbers closely as part of her job at the Advocacy Institute, which works on behalf of children in special education. She has suggested that the uptick in New York and nationwide could have been driven, at least in part, by policies that may offer an incentive to place more students in special education.

She noted that through waivers given under the No Child Left Behind law, states could set different proficiency goals for different student subgroups based on past performance. In Cortiella's view, that may have provided an incentive to classify some low-performing students as special education students rather than regular education students. She's concerned that same incentive may be carried over into NCLB's successor, the Every Student Succeeds Act.

States must still count students with disabilities as part of the overall student population. But in the special education subgroup, fewer students have to meet proficiency for a state to still demonstrate progress.

What all those changes may mean for states' bottom lines depends on how they pay for special education. Many states provide funding to their districts based on student "weights." A student with autism could be granted more state aid than a student with a speech or language impairment. Other states pay for students with disabilities based on the services those students require—say, a student in a self-contained classroom with a dedicated aide receives more funding than a student in a general education classroom.

"Weights are not a bad way to provide funding if they're done judiciously and carefully," said Deborah Verstegen, a professor of education finance and policy at the University of Nevada, Reno, who has conducted regular surveys of the way states finance their education programs.

Twenty states use some kind of weighted-funding system, Verstegen has found throughher research, and some are very complex. Oklahoma, for example, has 12 weights based on disability category. Texas also has weights, but they are based on where the student is educated, such as in a self-contained classroom. Wyoming, on the other hand, reimburses its districts 100 percent of their approved special education costs and uses no weights.

In Virginia, Eisenberg, the state special education director, said that districts receive funding based solely on the number of special education students they have, with no added money based on the services a child receives. "Localities are hurting because they're not getting the money," said Eisenberg, adding that the state is looking at the situation. "The funding formula doesn't necessarily reflect that intensity of support needs."

Unfortunately, the overall financial impact of special education child counts—either up or down—is mostly conjecture, said Louis Danielson, a managing director at the American Institutes of Research. For 15 years, he served as the head of the Education Department's research-to-practice division in the office of special education programs.

It has been 16 years since anyone has taken a big-picture look at how special education dollars are spent. In 1999-2000, the nation spent about $50 billion on special education. About 7.5 percent of that was federal money.

But a lot has changed in nearly two decades. For example, that same report from 1999-2000 showed that states were spending $3.7 billion just on special education transportation. The push to serve more students in their home schools has likely affected that cost—but there's no national numbers on that, Danielson said.

"I would love, given how long it's been, to see another study like that," Danielson said. "We know about shifts in numbers; what we don't know about is what kinds of services they are getting and what their services cost."

The Chicago-based organization is launching a nationwide push to increase the availability of aspiring models with disabilities in local casting firms.

"Unfortunately, a lot of talent firms don’t have talent with disabilities on their books," said Katie Driscoll, founder and president of Changing the Face of Beauty. "This is something we need to change.

"The disability community is the largest minority in the world, yet they remain the least represented in our media and our advertising. Being that the media voice is so loud and influential in our world today, it's important that this large minority receive representation like everyone else."

Four local photographers — Jamie Oldenburg, Amanda Armitage, Devin Parrish and Sara Demick — photographed the children, most of whom were from metro Detroit.

Partnering with a Chicago-based salon, Changing the Face of Beauty will be hosting a second event in May that will provide 25 models (children and adults) with disabilities professional head shots that can be taken to casting firms to obtain representation for modeling opportunities.

Great News for More Chicago Accessible performances continue in 2016, Victory Gardens Theater Access Project continues programs for the Disability Community! The following info was shared by a few people, TY for sharing!
Hey all. The Access Project of Victory Gardens Theater and the Neofuturists are teaming up again to make the iconic Neofuturist production Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind accessible in every way. There will be another accessible performance of Too Much Light May 7 at Victory Gardens, 2433 N. Lincoln. There will be audio description and a touch tour for blind people and ASL interpretation and captioning for those who are deaf. And of course there's plenty of wheelchair seating. But that's not all! Our summer workshop to build our own do it yourself Too Much Light show begins in June. It's free and open to everyone with or without a disability.

Also a free accessible workshop (the application is included in the link) Come join us! It's so much fun that it will probably soon be made illegal. So hurry and sign up while you still can!

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

NEW YORK, April 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) today launched SPARK, an online research initiative designed to become the largest autism study ever undertaken in the United States. SPARK will collect information and DNA for genetic analysis from 50,000 individuals with autism — and their families — to advance our understanding of the causes of this condition and make progress in discovering possible supports and treatments.

Autism is known to have a strong genetic component. To date, approximately 50 genes have been identified that almost certainly play a role in autism, and scientists estimate that an additional 300 or more are involved. By studying these genes, associated biological mechanisms and how genetics interact with environmental factors, researchers can better understand the condition's causes, and link them to the spectrum of symptoms, skills and challenges of those affected.

"Knowledge is power and SPARK was created because we simply haven't learned enough about the genetics and other possible causes of autism," says Wendy Chung, M.D., Ph.D., SPARK Principal Investigator and Director of Clinical Research at SFARI. "SPARK will help researchers make new discoveries that will ultimately lead to the development of new supports and treatments to improve the lives of people living with challenges. Together, we can SPARK a movement in autism research."

SPARK aims to speed up autism research by inviting participants from this large, diverse autism community that will include individuals with a professional diagnosis of autism of both sexes and all ages, backgrounds, races, geographic locations and socioeconomic situations. The initiative catalyzes research by creating access to study participants whose DNA can be selectively analyzed for the specific scientific question of interest. SPARK will connect participants to researchers, offering them the unique opportunity to impact the future of autism research by joining any of the multiple studies offered through SPARK. SPARK will also take feedback from individuals and parents of children with autism to develop a robust research agenda that is meaningful for them.

"As a mother of two young adults on the autism spectrum, it is very important to me and my family that we take part in autism research opportunities like SPARK that can lead to tangible improvements – both for today's autism community and for generations to come," says Darnell Newsum, SPARK participant along with her two children and husband who live in Brooklyn, New York. "One of my hopes for SPARK is that it can ultimately lead to insights on how best to help children with autism as they progress into adulthood."

About SPARKSPARK (Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research for Knowledge) is a national autism research initiative that will connect individuals with a professional diagnosis of autism and their biological family members to research opportunities to advance our understanding of autism. SPARK's goal in doing so is not only to better understand autism, but to accelerate the development of new treatments and supports.

SPARK was designed to be easily accessible to the entire autism community and was fashioned with input from adults with autism, parents, researchers, clinicians, service providers and advocates.

Registering for this first-of-its-kind initiative can be done entirely online in the convenience of one's home and at no cost. DNA will be collected via saliva kits shipped directly to participants. Once the SPARK participant's family has returned their saliva samples and provided some medical and family history information, the SPARK participant will receive a $50 gift card. SPARK will provide access to online resources and the latest research in autism, which may provide participants and families with valuable information to help address daily challenges.

For researchers, SPARK provides a large, well-characterized cohort of genetic, medical and behavioral data, and will result in cost-savings for researchers by reducing start-up costs for individual studies.

SPARK has partnered with 21 clinical sites across the country, as well as autism organizations, service providers and key influencers to help educate the public about SPARK and to recruit participants. Through these strategic partnerships, SFARI hopes to reach and engage a diverse and large number of individuals and families affected by autism. To find a SPARK clinical site near you, please visit www.SPARKforAutism.org.

SPARK is entirely funded by SFARI, a scientific initiative within the Simons Foundation's suite of programs.

About Simons Foundation Autism Research InitiativeThe Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) seeks to improve the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders by funding innovative research of the highest quality and relevance. SFARI currently funds more than 250 investigators in the U.S. and abroad. In addition, SFARI aims to advance the autism research field as a whole by developing resources for scientists. Please visit www.SFARI.org for more information on all SFARI programs.

About AutismAutism is a general term used to describe a group of complex developmental disorders – autism spectrum disorders – caused by a combination of genes and perhaps environmental influences. These disorders are characterized by deficits in social communication (both verbal and non-verbal) and the presence of repetitive behaviors or restrictive interests. An estimated one in 68 children in the U.S. is on the autism spectrum. The wide range of autism manifestations makes it challenging to study potential causes or treatments, and thus a large cohort, which can be segmented, can substantially advance such efforts.

For those with children with autism, may you have a moment like this, it's awesome!

Luis Vasquez and his wife took their son to watch his favorite band perform in Mexico City on April 16, 2016. As Coldplay began playing one of their hit songs, "Fix You," the young boy began to cry as he jumped up and down. His father then held him tight and sang along in an emotional moment.

The video was shared online and quickly went viral. As of Wednesday, April 27, 2016, the video had over 3 million views on YouTube and even caught the attention of Coldplay.

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

from a Press Release on April 25, 2016.John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

The Chicago Community Trust, MacArthur and Calvert Foundation announce Benefit Chicago, an innovative collaboration that aims to mobilize $100 million in impact investments for nonprofits and social enterprises in Chicago.

Photos: iStock, Steve Becker

This significant infusion of much-needed capital will provide low-interest loans and other investments to accelerate the efforts of local social sector organizations working to address key priorities throughout the Chicago region, such as education and child care, access to healthy food, quality affordable housing, energy conservation, job creation and training and more.

Breaking new ground, Benefit Chicago draws on the complementary experience and capabilities of a private foundation, a community foundation managing substantial donor advised fund assets, and a nonprofit financial institution.

"Our goal is to provide a simple yet powerful way for everyone to make investments which, ultimately, benefit the dynamic, diverse city we love – making it a better place for all,” said MacArthur President Julia Stasch. “We view this as an idea with universal appeal. MacArthur looks forward to sharing Benefit Chicago’s fresh approach with those who may want to replicate it elsewhere, and to applying it in other ways so that the social sector benefits more fully from rising interest in impact investing around the world."

A new report summarizing research commissioned by MacArthur and The Chicago Community Trust, finds a significant unmet need for financial capital throughout Chicago’s social sector. This need totals more than $100 million and could rise to as much as $400 million over the next five years, with the caveat that determining when specific organizations are investment-ready always requires rigorous vetting.

Our goal is to provide a simple yet powerful way for everyone to make investments which, ultimately, benefit the dynamic, diverse city we love – making it a better place for all.

At the same time, this research reveals an increasing number of individuals and institutions looking for simpler ways to make local investments that have potential to deliver meaningful social, economic and environmental impact.

Benefit Chicago bridges the gap between these two sides of the region’s nascent impact investment marketplace, unlocking new financial resources for organizations whose work benefits the communities and people that need them most.

How it Works

Benefit Chicago is designed to allow everyone – individuals, businesses, and institutions – to help make a positive impact in their home community.

Investors who wish to participate in Benefit Chicago can purchase Chicago-targeted Community Investment Notes®. Calvert Foundation has committed to issue up to $50 million of these fixed-income securities, which offer principal maturities ranging from one to 15 years, with interest payable annually.

The Notes are available directly through Calvert Foundation, through more than 100 brokerage firms nationwide, and as a standing option for eligible donor advised funds at The Chicago Community Trust. The Trust has committed to invest $15 million in a 15-year Chicago-targeted Note, using a portion of donor-advised funds that it manages.

“As The Chicago Community Trust enters its second century of work, we are thrilled to introduce Benefit Chicago to our donors, providing them with a straightforward yet transformational way to invest for impact in tandem with their traditional grant-making and philanthropy,” said Terry Mazany, president and CEO of The Trust.

Calvert Foundation will loan all proceeds of its Chicago-targeted Notes to a new charitable fund that MacArthur has established specifically to advance the mission of Benefit Chicago. The MacArthur Foundation is investing $50 million of its own assets in this new special-purpose fund, which will use the combined pool of capital to make patient, low-cost loans and other investments that boost the impact of Chicago’s social sector.

To catalyze Benefit Chicago’s scale-up and future success, eligible donor-advised fund account holders at The Chicago Community Trust are pre-approved to allocate additional fund assets for investment in Chicago-targeted Notes. The Trust also will chair a Community Advisory Committee to help inform investment and other activities related to Benefit Chicago.

“Calvert Foundation has been connecting investors to the causes and places they care about since 1995. We’re pleased to collaborate in this new way with such deeply-rooted and committed philanthropies by offering a Chicago-targeted impact investment option,” said Jennifer Pryce, president and CEO of Calvert Foundation.

Individuals or institutions interested in purchasing a Chicago-targeted Note should visit benefitCHI.org to learn about different investment options and read the prospectus. Applications for financing that will be available in connection with Benefit Chicago will be considered on an ongoing basis beginning in July. To learn about basic eligibility and sign up for informational updates and webinars, visit benefitCHI.org to learn about different investment options. Applications for financing through Benefit Chicago will be considered on an ongoing basis beginning in July. To learn about basic eligibility and sign up for informational updates and webinars, visit benefitCHI.org.

About the Organizations that Created Benefit Chicago

The Chicago Community Trust has been serving the people of metropolitan Chicago together for more than 100 years to bring about conditions for a thriving region where all residents enjoy a high quality of life and opportunities for a better future in a prosperous and inclusive community.

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation supports creative people, effective institutions, and influential networks building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. The Foundation has a 30-year track record in impact investing and has dedicated $500 million of its investment assets solely to this purpose. The Foundation also is deeply committed to its hometown community, Chicago, where it has provided nearly $1.1 billion in grants and impact investments since 1978.

Calvert Foundation is an international impact investing intermediary that connects investors with the causes and places they care about through its Community Investment Note®. Since 1995, Calvert Foundation has helped investors create measurable social impact in communities, with a 100 percent repayment rate of principal and interest to its investors.*

Note to InvestorsCommunity Investment Notes. Any such offer or solicitation will be made only by Calvert Foundation in accordance with its prospectus and all other applicable securities and other laws. None of the information or analyses presented are intended to form the basis for any investment decision, and no specific recommendations are intended. Calvert Social Investment Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, offers the Community Investment Note, which is subject to certain risks, is not a mutual fund, is not FDIC or SIPC insured, and should not be confused with any Calvert Investments-sponsored investment product. Any decision to invest in these securities through this Site should only be made after reading the prospectus or by calling 800.248.0337. Due to Blue Sky regulations, the current offering of the Community Investment Note may not be available in all states.

*Past performance is no guarantee of future results. As with all investments, there is risk. Please read the prospectus before investing

- See more at: https://www.macfound.org/press/press-releases/100-million-impact-investment-collaboration-benefit-chicago/#sthash.oQmUuI82.dpuf

Wherever you are tomorrow you can participate! Help us share the message that Human Services needs a real budget solution. Below you will find messaging you can share via Facebook and Twitter.

Attend a rally from 11:00 - 12:00 in front of the Bilandic Building if you can be in Chicago! This is just prior to the House Human Service Appropriations Hearing. THIS IS A TIME CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS EMAIL!**

If you are in-person and/or listening to the hearing please engage in social media. Tips and sample posts are below:

Roll Call: Call out advocate groups and individuals by name as they testify.

Take Photos: Take and post photos of the crowds present at the hearing.

Use Quotes: Post important quotes from elected officials and advocates along with a photo in social media posts.

Be sure to include as many of these addresses below and make sure to include the hashtag #ILBudgetNow.

Living with RA can present its share of difficulty. But with a little bit of innovation and determination, you’ll find new ways to get things done. Make everyday tasks and pain management easier with these 13 clever life hacks from the Healthline RA community.

2. Use a paraffin dip for stiff hands and feet first thing in the morning or before bed to relieve pain and stiffness. It melts at a low enough heat that you can comfortably put your hands or feet into it without getting burned. Check out this set that includes the bath, wax, and handling mitts.

3. Go for paper bags, and carry grocery bags with your forearms instead of hands. Just don’t use the crooks of your elbows. That part of your body isn’t designed to support weight.

4. Trying to get a precision grip? Use a hemostat to grab and open a variety packages. A hemostat is a good alternative to using your teeth to open things. Use it to peel off foil lids or grab and tear open packages.This setincludes a hemostat with a curved tip to reach tougher angles.

5. To ease swelling and soreness, soak in Epsom salts with essential oils for some aromatherapy. Epsom salt is made of sulfate and magnesium, which help alleviate pain.

6. For better grip, try rubber bands on jar lids to provide more traction to get them open. It even works on small bottles, like nail polish.Use thick bands for wider jar lids and small bands for smaller lids.

8. Use wheat bags as an alternative to hot water bottles or ice packs for pain relief. Heat them in the microwave or freeze them. You can form them into many different shapes. Purchase one or make a wheat bag on your own.

9. Slide a key ring onto a zipper to give it more surface area to grab onto with sore fingers. Pieces of string or zipper pulls also make it easier to operate zippers.

10. Be sure your doctor checks your vitamin D levels often. Many people with arthritis are prescribed oral steroids that may cause vitamin D deficiencies. The vitamin contributes to bone health and helps the immune system. If you aren’t getting enough of the vitamin, keep somesupplements in your home.

11. Cold is good for RA. Create your own awesome gel pack with gallon Ziploc bags filled with two parts water and one part alcohol. You can also freeze plastic bags of corn syrup or dish soap.

12. Use a heating pad throw to help loosen stiff joints and make your body more limber. A large throw can keep more of your body warm.

13. Open jars more easily by letting air under the lid. Some tools are designed for this, but you can use the handle end of a spoon. You can also puncture the lid of a jar to release the seal. Dryer sheets or damp washcloths can help you get a good grip on the lid.

RESOURCES:

National Voter Registration Day is Sept. 26th - Register Online (CLICK IMAGE) takes you to Rock The Vote!

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